Russians aid rebels' drive to seize port

By COMPILED BY DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE STAFF WIRE REPORTS

Posted: August 30, 2014 at 3:38 a.m.

SERGEI GRITS
Credit: AP
A pro-Russia rebel patrols at the Novoazovsk border crossing Friday in eastern Ukraine. Rebel fi ghters looked to be in control of the area, where at least a half-dozen tanks were seen on roads around the town.

Backed by Russian troops and weaponry, hundreds of Ukrainian rebel militiamen mobilized Friday in the southeastern town of Novoazovsk, vacated by the Ukrainian military two days ago, and began to push toward the seaport of Mariupol 27 miles away.